title: Comparison of two interferon alfa treatment regimens characterized by an early virological response in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the efficacy of an interferon regimen characterized by an early virological response in patients with chronic hepatitis C and evaluated whether the patient's virological status during therapy would be useful for predicting a complete response.
  
  
  METHODS
  We treated 62 patients with chronic hepatitis C with 6 million units (MU) of human lymphoblastoid interferon daily for 4 wk. The serum HCV RNA was assayed at week 2 by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. HCV RNA-negative patients (group A) received 6 MU of interferon three times weekly for an additional 22 wk (total dose, 564 MU). HCV RNA-positive patients were randomly assigned to group B-1, which received the same regimen as group A, or to group B-2, which received 6 MU of interferon daily for 4 wk followed by 6 MU three times weekly for 18 wk (total dose, 660 MU).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete responses were achieved by 19 (63.3%) of 30 group A patients, compared with one (6.3%) of 16 group B-1 patients and none of 16 group B-2 patients. The virological response at week 2 and the pretreatment serum HCV RNA level were independent significant predictors of a complete response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients who were still HCV RNA-positive at week 2 were unlikely to achieve a complete response after interferon therapy. An increase in the total dose of interferon failed to yield further benefit in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine (III), Tokai University School of Medicine, Bohseidai, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kagawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hosoi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takashimizu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawazoe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mochizuki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wasada
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uchiyama
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishizaki
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsuzaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral